Error E52 on a Zanussi Washing Machine
Error E52 on a Zanussi washing machine means the control board is receiving no signal from the tachometric generator – the tacho coil on the motor. This tells the machine the motor is not running, even though power is being sent to it. The most common causes are a jammed motor or drum, a disconnected tacho coil or magnet, a wiring fault between the coil and the PCB, or – less expectedly – worn carbon brushes.
Always unplug the washing machine before opening it or accessing any internal component. Motor and PCB diagnostics involve accessing live components when powered – only carry out powered tests if you are competent and confident working with mains electrical equipment. See our DIY repair safety guide before starting.
Before investigating a specific error code, it is worth understanding how they work in general. Error codes identify which part of a machine’s self-diagnostic system has flagged a problem – they do not always point directly to the failed component. See our guide on appliance error codes: friend or foe? for more context.
What Does Error E52 Mean?
Error E52 is defined as “no signal from the tachometric generator”. The tachometric generator – commonly called the tacho coil – is a small coil mounted on the end of the motor armature. A magnet is attached to the armature and rotates with it. As each pole of the magnet passes the tacho coil, it generates a small electrical pulse that the control board uses to measure and control motor speed.
When E52 is displayed, the control board is sending power to the motor but receiving no pulses back from the tacho coil. It therefore cannot confirm the motor is running and shuts down the programme. There is no further fault information – the machine simply knows power is going in and nothing is being reported back.
Possible Causes of Error E52
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Motor or drum physically jammed
The most commonly cited cause in technical documentation. If the motor cannot turn, no signal can be generated. Motor bearing failure is rare but possible. A jammed drum – from a foreign object, collapsed drum paddle, or seized bearing – will also prevent the motor from turning. This can be checked immediately: if you can turn the drum freely by hand with the machine unplugged, a physical jam can be ruled out.
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Tacho magnet broken or detached
If the magnet on the end of the armature has cracked, fallen off, or become detached, the tacho coil has nothing to detect even though the motor may be running normally. A loose or missing magnet may also cause the motor to lose speed control and surge suddenly into high speed. Inspect the end of the motor armature for a damaged or missing magnet.
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Tacho coil detached or failed
The tacho coil itself can physically fall off the motor end cap, or fail electrically. Both the coil and magnet can be inspected by removing the motor cover. The resistance of the tacho coil can be measured with a multimeter – but note that the resistance is typically very high and may appear close to open circuit on a non-digital meter. Check the expected resistance value for your specific motor before concluding it has failed.
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Wiring or connection fault between tacho coil and PCB
A broken, corroded, or loose connection anywhere in the wiring between the tacho coil and the control board will prevent the signal reaching the PCB. Check the connector at the motor end and trace the wiring back to the board, checking each connector for corrosion, damage, or loose fit.
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Worn or sticking carbon brushes
E52 is not the expected error code for carbon brush failure, but it has been reported as the cause in a number of real-world cases. If the brushes are so worn that they are not making consistent contact, the motor may be drawing erratic or insufficient current – which could indirectly affect the tacho signal. Check the carbon brushes even if this seems an unexpected cause. See our guide on diagnosing carbon brush wear.
Diagnostic Approach
Work through the causes in order of how easy they are to check, starting with the quickest:
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Turn the drum by hand with the machine unplugged. If it turns freely, a physical jam is not the cause. -
Check the carbon brushes. Remove and inspect for wear. Replace if the brushes are short or not making clean contact. -
Inspect the tacho coil and magnet. Remove the motor cover and check both are physically present, intact, and securely attached. -
Check all wiring connectors between the tacho coil and the control board for corrosion, damage, or loose connections. -
Measure the tacho coil resistance with a digital multimeter. Compare the reading against the expected value for your motor – note the resistance is naturally high.
For more detail on the tacho coil, how it works, and this type of fault in a different manufacturer’s machine, see our guide on Hoover Nextra Error 7 – the same tacho coil fault on a different brand, with additional diagnostic information.
Need a Zanussi Repair or Spare Part?
If the fault is confirmed but beyond DIY repair, Whitegoods Help can help with a vetted engineer or genuine spare parts.
Related Guides
Do I Need to Change the Carbon Brushes?How to check whether worn carbon brushes are causing a motor fault – including the less obvious symptoms they can produce.
Hoover Nextra Error 7 – Tacho Coil FaultThe same tacho coil fault on a Hoover machine, with additional detail on the component and how to diagnose it.
Zanussi Error Code E50Another Zanussi motor-related error code – useful context if E52 diagnosis does not lead to a clear conclusion.
Washing Machine Error Codes GuideA full guide to washing machine error codes across all major brands – including what they mean and their limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Zanussi error E52 mean?
Error E52 means the control board is receiving no signal from the tachometric generator – the tacho coil – on the motor. The machine is sending power to the motor but cannot detect whether it is running. Possible causes include a physically jammed motor or drum, a detached or broken tacho coil or magnet, a wiring fault between the coil and the PCB, or worn carbon brushes.
Can I check whether the motor is jammed myself?
Yes – unplug the machine and try turning the drum by hand. If it rotates freely, a physical jam is not the cause and you can focus on the electrical causes. If the drum is stiff or locked, there may be a seized bearing, a jammed foreign object, or a motor bearing failure.
Why would carbon brushes cause error E52?
E52 is not the expected code for carbon brush failure, but it has been reported as the actual cause in several real cases. Severely worn or intermittently contacting brushes can affect motor performance in ways that indirectly produce unexpected error codes. It is worth checking the brushes as part of the diagnostic process even if they seem an unlikely cause.
What is the tacho coil and how does it work?
The tacho coil is a small sensing coil mounted on the end of the motor. A magnet attached to the motor armature rotates with it, and as each magnetic pole passes the coil, a small electrical pulse is generated. The control board counts these pulses to measure and regulate motor speed. If no pulses are received, the board cannot confirm the motor is running and triggers the error.
Is E52 repairable as a DIY fix?
Some causes – such as a loose wiring connector, a detached tacho coil, or worn carbon brushes – are accessible to a competent DIY repairer with basic electrical knowledge. Motor bearing failure or PCB faults are more involved and may be better handled by a qualified engineer. Always unplug the machine before opening it and follow safe working practices throughout.
11 Comments
Grouped into 5 comment threads.
This is a great article, I'm also experiencing the same problem with E52 on my Zanussi ZJD12191 built in washing machine (PNC number 914601218/01). It appears to go through the various cycles, and it does fill and drain, but the drum does not spin. The drum and motor both spin easily by hand so I can discount (1). I've taken the washing machine apart and I can't see anything obviously wrong. I want to check points 2 and 3. I have tried getting what I think was the motor cover off (from the back) but it wasn't easy. I took four long torx screws out and two hex bolts, and also tried removing the two small torx screws holding on the electronics. How does the motor cover come off? 5 replies
In my case E52 was caused by worn out carbon motor brushing preventing the motor being driven. Replacement simple enough esp when removing the motor from the machine first. 1 reply
Thanks Eric. That’s unusual, as worn carbon brushes normally creates a different error code. E52 normally means it thinks everything on the motor is OK but can’t understand why it still isn’t running. Your experience shows it’s always worth checking everything on the motor.
This is a great article, I’m also experiencing the same problem with E52 on my Zanussi ZJD12191 built in washing machine (PNC number 914601218/01). It appears to go through the various cycles, and it does fill and drain, but the drum does not spin.
The drum and motor both spin easily by hand so I can discount (1). I’ve taken the washing machine apart and I can’t see anything obviously wrong.
I want to check points 2 and 3. I have tried getting what I think was the motor cover off (from the back) but it wasn’t easy. I took four long torx screws out and two hex bolts, and also tried removing the two small torx screws holding on the electronics.
How does the motor cover come off?
I accessed the end of the motor without removing the cover by turning the washing machine on its side and going through the bottom. After fiddling with the brushes a bit of carbon dust came out, and after fiddling with what I think is the magnet sensor, the drum is spinning again. Running a test wash now and so far so good. I don’t think I’ve really “fixed” it though, I’m expecting it to stop again like it did before.
I think it might be worth replacing the brushes, do you recommend that? Is it difficult?
Is the magnet sensor a squarish block near the top brush that has a wire coming out of it?
Hello JP. It could be that the disturbed a poor connection, or it could even be that the carbon brushes were sticking you have helped dislodge them. However, if you are getting the errorcode E52 and the Tacho coil is the main suspect. If the washing machine is running okay now and it sounds okay, and making any funny noises or sparking and I’d be tempted to keep fingers crossed and continue to use it.
You really need to take off the motor to be able to deal with anything like this. They are usually three or four bolts holding the motor place but it should not be difficult to see exactly how it is fixed in place. The Tacho magnet and coil are right at the end of the motor. The opposite end to where the belt fits.
Thanks for your reply Andy. Yes I get the E52 code when I press the start buttons together.
I’ve been testing it on the 10min spin cycle. It worked a couple of times, then it did stop again, BUT giving the machine a thump got it going again. After that, I tried the fingers crossed approach and started a wash. It got through most of a cycle and then tripped the power! After that neither a thump nor a fingers crossed approach seems to help. I can get the motor off. I have a feeling that it needs new brushes.
Hi, If it tripped the power, it could have an insulation fault. Without a specialised insulation test meter, you can’t safely test the machine or troubleshoot what caused it.
Hi Andy. Just to let you know I resolved the issue. It turned out to be similar to eric jansen’s above. The carbon brushes were worn down and there was actually some wire core exposed on the one. I replaced the brushes with a pair from amazon for less than 2 quid, and it’s now working perfectly! The 16 year old machine lives on. I’m a bit worried that the brush wire core could have scratched the armature but so far, so good.
Although it’s strange that it got an E52 message, the worn brushes explains the intermittent fault that could be corrected sometimes with a good bang. If it lasts for a couple of months I might even treat the machine to a new dryer heating element, which I disconnected after getting an E38 message awhile ago!
Thanks so much for your help and an excellent site and article.